My ESS Supercharged 2.5i Z4

[Shooter]

OK, thanks for the input.
I was afraid that the carriers themselves wouldn't fit the car without a bit of further modification.

Do you know if this setup would fit 16 inches wheels ?
For everyday use, i have 18" wheels, but for track use, i will most probably go with my original 16" wheels.

 

[mamasou]

OK, thanks for the input.
I was afraid that the carriers themselves wouldn't fit the car without a bit of further modification.

Do you know if this setup would fit 16 inches wheels ?
For everyday use, i have 18" wheels, but for track use, i will most probably go with my original 16" wheels.

The new carriers would fit just fine in your car!

Also these brakes are for OEM wheels that are at least 17inches wide and with a positive offset of 47-50mm.

In other words, NO, they would not fit 16inches OEM wheels.

 

[Pom]

that is an awsome mod!

would love to do something similar with an ess kit to my 3.0 but just need to save for a bit (in aus so the $ aint helpin )

impressed that you put it together in your garage!

 

[bmwmike]

Gotta love the twin screw whine! Great work, whats the increase in bhp?

Can we see more pics of the car? Im not sure Ive seen many with those wheels!

 

[DannyBoy]

How much bigger in diameter are the 3.0 rotors over the 2.5?

Z4 2.5i OEM front rotor diameter is 286mm x 22mm and rear rotor diameter is 280mm x 10mm.

Z4 3.0si OEM front rotor diameter is 325mm x 25mm and rear rotor diameter is 294mm x 19mm.

For comparison, E46 M3 is equipped with 325mm x 28mm front and 328mm x 20mm rear rotors.

Also, Z4M is equipped with 345mm x 28mm front and 328mm x 20mm rear rotors.

Sounds like a good mod.

Have to admit the 3.0i brakes arent the best being the reason BMW decided the 3.0si would get the larger set. Any idea what size are fitted to the 3.0i?

 

[mamasou]

Any idea what size are fitted to the 3.0i?

Z4 3.0i is fitted with 300mm x 22mm front and 294mm x 19mm rear rotors.

 

[Anonymous]

 

[ElegantSpoon]

How much would it cost to change to the 3.0si brakes? My 2.2i brakes feel good as they are so 3.0si brakes should be a real improvement!

 

[mamasou]

How much would it cost to change to the 3.0si brakes?

All the OEM new parts, will cost you about 2000 +/-100 euro from your dealer.

Now i do not know how much will be to install them on an authorized service.

I did the job myself using hand tools and a pair of good jacks.

However, for this job you will need a huge 46mm socket. That can be difficult to find and expensive. I paid 130 euros for the damn thing.

My 2.2i brakes feel good as they are so 3.0si brakes should be a real improvement!

The Z4 3.0si brakes are a real improvment. I recommend them. Actually in any non M-powered Z4 they will do an exellent job!

Dont buy into aftermarket Big brake kit bullshit that will change only your front brakes.

These kits may alter the sensitive balance of your overall braking force and you may pay more bucks, to have stupid results in the end.

And apart from altering your brake balance they may put more weight in your wheels worsening the handling.

Not to mention reliability issues with all these multi-piston calipers-equaling more moving parts-equaling more wear/maintanance.

 

[mamasou]

Can we see more pics of the car? Im not sure Ive seen many with those wheels!

The wheels are actually 18inches replicas of the Schnitzer E90 M3 wheels.

They look great but are notorious in their factory balancing and need a meticulous on-car balancing job for not to wiggle when going in high speeds.

I will post some photos soon!

 

[Pom]

ive got a 3.0 - would there really be much difference in the brakes between the SI and mine?

 

[cj10jeeper]

mamasou
I'm going with the conversion on my 3.0i to the 3.0si calipers and carriers to take advantage of the larger 325mm rotors. I already have the larger rears so should make a nice set-up when coupled with better rotors and pads.

Interested that you mention the large 46mm socket as to date I've not pulled the rotors off my Zed, but on my X5 they were simply exchanged by removing the caliper and carrier, after which the disk pulls off. So what is different on the Zed that requires this socket? (I'd look it up but can't get to my TIS manual this afternoon)

 

[ZetaTre]

No need for a 46mm: that's to remove the bearing and hub. Hub is the same across all non-///M cars. The rotor is held in place by a hex bolt, that's it...

I put together this, if you guys are interested

 

[cj10jeeper]

No need for a 46mm: that's to remove the bearing and hub. Hub is the same across all non-///M cars. The rotor is held in place by a hex bolt, that's it...

I put together [utl=http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=8399]this[/url], if you guys are interested

That confirms my thinking Could not see why I'd need to pull the hub and bearing off.

 

[mamasou]

No need for a 46mm: that's to remove the bearing and hub. Hub is the same across all non-///M cars. The rotor is held in place by a hex bolt, that's it...

I put together [utl=http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=8399]this[/url], if you guys are interested

That confirms my thinking Could not see why I'd need to pull the hub and bearing off.

Well, the fact is that 2.5i and 3.0i share the same front dust protection plates but the the 3.0si has different ones.

So in order to remove them and change them you will need to take off the front hub/bearing.

That is why you need the 46mm socket.

Sorry guys..

 

[ZetaTre]

Very good point.

However the front is not as problematic as the rear. The front has a flat edge and the whole cover is bent toward the inside of the car (I guess to act as a air dutch and convoy fresh air onto the rotors). I would say it's a plus to have the bigger one...

The rear has a lip that covers the rotor: up to 294mm is the same plate, but the 330i has bigger rear plate and if you try to fit 320mm rotors, you'll hit the plate... Personally, for this I would use an easier techinique.... If something doesn't fit, it means the hammer ain't big enough

On my Z3 the rear plate was rubbing against the rotor; I just waked it a couple times and it has been fine ever since

I'll update my post with this caution.

Thanks for catching this and added someone's experience with a 325mm front upgrade

 

[cj10jeeper]

That's a good point and indeed had started to think that's what you must be doing as I'd just noted from searches that the backing plate is a different part number used just on the Z4 Si and 330's. Time to pull a wheel and see if it can be massaged or worthy of changing.

Rear I was looking at this afternoon and that is certainly a close wrap around fit, but thankfully for my project I'll stick with the OEM 3.0i set up and do fronts only

 

[mamasou]

The front has a flat edge and the whole cover is bent toward the inside of the car (I guess to act as a air dutch and convoy fresh air onto the rotors). I would say it's a plus to have the bigger one...
.....Personally, for this I would use an easier techinique.... If something doesn't fit, it means the hammer ain't big enough

You could try to custom-shape the plates with a tool like a hammer or so but if you want to do a quality job you should replace your front protection plates.

You are going to do some work anyway if you DIY upgrade your brakes.

So why not spent some more time and money and do the whole procedure right.

That's my view of course.

 

[mamasou]

Gotta love the twin screw whine! Great work, whats the increase in bhp?

Can we see more pics of the car? Im not sure Ive seen many with those wheels!

Here are a few pix of the car.

 

[azroadie]

I know this is an older post, but I've been dying to do this since I bought my car. Well that time has come!!! Hoping to install in the next couple of months. I'd love to hear your feedback now that you've had it for a while.